A PROJECT to save internationally important bogs and secure the future of the red squirrel in the North-East won the Forestry Commission a conservation award.
Kielder Forest District has came top of the business category in the first Northumberland Wildlife Trust Conservation Awards 2003, sponsored by the utility company npower.
Judges praised forest chiefs for viewing wildlife as an asset and taking an innovative and pre-emptive approach to tackling conservation issues.
Graham Gill, forest district manager, said: "This is a wonderful accolade and a reward for all the hard work of our staff in caring for the unique Northumberland landscape.
He also dedicated the award to the partnership agencies who have helped in the projects.
The Forestry Commission led a four-year multi-agency bog restoration project funded by the EU's LIFE scheme. It reinstated 500 acres of wetland areas by removing trees and installing dams.
Moves to protect red squirrels have involved planting small seed conifers and adjusting felling plans. The results of a world-first project to make Kielder more red squirrel-friendly by using computer modelling tools are expected in the a few weeks.
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